Talented Locals Impress!
Sun, 17 Sept 2000, 11:58 amWalter Plinge5 posts in thread
Talented Locals Impress!
Sun, 17 Sept 2000, 11:58 amLast night I spent a wonderous night at the theatre. For only two dollars I got to see two excellent locally written short plays (with a delicious supper thrown in). "Affinity's End" by Amanda Crewes and "No Stamp Required" by Jarrad West and Carmen Braidwood played as a double bill at Hackett Hall.
"No Stamp Required", which ponders life after high school, was written for Jarrad and Carmen's Year Twelve graduation and won last years ITA Youth Festival. It is a cute and funny piece but with an important message for school leavers. I missed some of the initial dialogue due to it being slightly rushed but the actors soon relaxed and slowed down. The set and the lighting were simple and effective. I particularly liked the powerful image which was created by the single over-head light shining down on Carmen and her burning envelope. Jarrad and Carmen have such talent and vitality and the singing from these 'youngsters' was especially delightful.
Just when I thought that Amanda Crewes was only smart, gorgeous and talented I find out that she is also a fantastic writer. I am sorry that I never saw Amanda's last two plays. "Affinity's End", skillfully directed by David Crewes, was a wonderful journey through the relationship of a Mars and Venus couple. It was incredibly funny one moment and terribly sad the next. The dialogue was mostly naturalistic and very real but at times it was pure poetry and I enjoyed every word which was spoken. Like "No Stamp Required" before it, the set and lighting (Hywell Williams) were simple and effective. I felt that the music between scenes was not necessary because each scene left the audience feeling something different and the music was the same all the way through. This did not deter from such an excellent play though. The acting was also excellent. Alex McLennan gave his best performance yet and proved that he isn't just a musical theatre funny man. He had many in the audience in tears, including me, in his final scene. Amanda and Conrad Crisafulli were perfect in their roles. I was so proud of all involved and encourage everyone to see this play at the festival.
Congratulations to everyone involved in this excellent night.
"No Stamp Required", which ponders life after high school, was written for Jarrad and Carmen's Year Twelve graduation and won last years ITA Youth Festival. It is a cute and funny piece but with an important message for school leavers. I missed some of the initial dialogue due to it being slightly rushed but the actors soon relaxed and slowed down. The set and the lighting were simple and effective. I particularly liked the powerful image which was created by the single over-head light shining down on Carmen and her burning envelope. Jarrad and Carmen have such talent and vitality and the singing from these 'youngsters' was especially delightful.
Just when I thought that Amanda Crewes was only smart, gorgeous and talented I find out that she is also a fantastic writer. I am sorry that I never saw Amanda's last two plays. "Affinity's End", skillfully directed by David Crewes, was a wonderful journey through the relationship of a Mars and Venus couple. It was incredibly funny one moment and terribly sad the next. The dialogue was mostly naturalistic and very real but at times it was pure poetry and I enjoyed every word which was spoken. Like "No Stamp Required" before it, the set and lighting (Hywell Williams) were simple and effective. I felt that the music between scenes was not necessary because each scene left the audience feeling something different and the music was the same all the way through. This did not deter from such an excellent play though. The acting was also excellent. Alex McLennan gave his best performance yet and proved that he isn't just a musical theatre funny man. He had many in the audience in tears, including me, in his final scene. Amanda and Conrad Crisafulli were perfect in their roles. I was so proud of all involved and encourage everyone to see this play at the festival.
Congratulations to everyone involved in this excellent night.
Walter PlingeSun, 17 Sept 2000, 11:58 am
Last night I spent a wonderous night at the theatre. For only two dollars I got to see two excellent locally written short plays (with a delicious supper thrown in). "Affinity's End" by Amanda Crewes and "No Stamp Required" by Jarrad West and Carmen Braidwood played as a double bill at Hackett Hall.
"No Stamp Required", which ponders life after high school, was written for Jarrad and Carmen's Year Twelve graduation and won last years ITA Youth Festival. It is a cute and funny piece but with an important message for school leavers. I missed some of the initial dialogue due to it being slightly rushed but the actors soon relaxed and slowed down. The set and the lighting were simple and effective. I particularly liked the powerful image which was created by the single over-head light shining down on Carmen and her burning envelope. Jarrad and Carmen have such talent and vitality and the singing from these 'youngsters' was especially delightful.
Just when I thought that Amanda Crewes was only smart, gorgeous and talented I find out that she is also a fantastic writer. I am sorry that I never saw Amanda's last two plays. "Affinity's End", skillfully directed by David Crewes, was a wonderful journey through the relationship of a Mars and Venus couple. It was incredibly funny one moment and terribly sad the next. The dialogue was mostly naturalistic and very real but at times it was pure poetry and I enjoyed every word which was spoken. Like "No Stamp Required" before it, the set and lighting (Hywell Williams) were simple and effective. I felt that the music between scenes was not necessary because each scene left the audience feeling something different and the music was the same all the way through. This did not deter from such an excellent play though. The acting was also excellent. Alex McLennan gave his best performance yet and proved that he isn't just a musical theatre funny man. He had many in the audience in tears, including me, in his final scene. Amanda and Conrad Crisafulli were perfect in their roles. I was so proud of all involved and encourage everyone to see this play at the festival.
Congratulations to everyone involved in this excellent night.
"No Stamp Required", which ponders life after high school, was written for Jarrad and Carmen's Year Twelve graduation and won last years ITA Youth Festival. It is a cute and funny piece but with an important message for school leavers. I missed some of the initial dialogue due to it being slightly rushed but the actors soon relaxed and slowed down. The set and the lighting were simple and effective. I particularly liked the powerful image which was created by the single over-head light shining down on Carmen and her burning envelope. Jarrad and Carmen have such talent and vitality and the singing from these 'youngsters' was especially delightful.
Just when I thought that Amanda Crewes was only smart, gorgeous and talented I find out that she is also a fantastic writer. I am sorry that I never saw Amanda's last two plays. "Affinity's End", skillfully directed by David Crewes, was a wonderful journey through the relationship of a Mars and Venus couple. It was incredibly funny one moment and terribly sad the next. The dialogue was mostly naturalistic and very real but at times it was pure poetry and I enjoyed every word which was spoken. Like "No Stamp Required" before it, the set and lighting (Hywell Williams) were simple and effective. I felt that the music between scenes was not necessary because each scene left the audience feeling something different and the music was the same all the way through. This did not deter from such an excellent play though. The acting was also excellent. Alex McLennan gave his best performance yet and proved that he isn't just a musical theatre funny man. He had many in the audience in tears, including me, in his final scene. Amanda and Conrad Crisafulli were perfect in their roles. I was so proud of all involved and encourage everyone to see this play at the festival.
Congratulations to everyone involved in this excellent night.
Leah MaherMon, 18 Sept 2000, 01:30 pm
RE: Talented Locals Impress!
Just a small point in the name of credit where it's due, didn't Nick Christo do the lights for "No Stamp Required"? I may of course be wrong. It's happened once before.
Carmen BraidwoodSun, 24 Sept 2000, 12:19 am
RE: Yes he did!
Yes, just on the topic of technical assistance fo "No Stamp Required", Nick Christo was our lighting operator fo the Hackett Hall performance, and mention must also be made of our dear friend Jessie Oliver, who has been responsible for the shows sound and music operation for nearly two years of performances!
Only tonight Jessie assisted us in yet another performance of "No Stamp..." at the Scarp theatre's "Escarpades". Thankyou again and again to our wonderful Jessie who has never let us down and all too often escapes commendation.
Only tonight Jessie assisted us in yet another performance of "No Stamp..." at the Scarp theatre's "Escarpades". Thankyou again and again to our wonderful Jessie who has never let us down and all too often escapes commendation.
JoeMcTue, 26 Sept 2000, 06:22 am
Applause
Applause - Applause - Aplause!!!
It is good to know that Gill, Leah & Carmen appreciate their techies - we will have to create an award for Technical appreciation and degree of difficulty - something like a big ball of gaffer tape (black for the techs and white for other or is that discrimination?)
Besides all that - it is great that you have acknowledge their endeavours, knowledge, expertise, bloody hard work, artistry and them. Unfortunetly it is not done often enough and in most cases only after they have got fed up or spat the dummy and left.
So to all others "SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL TECHIES"
I belive it was Sir Lawance, or someone like that, who once said after having an heated altercation with his lighting technicain "Dear boy - when the Greeks did a play they did not have to put with lighting technicains" (excuse the accent) to this the tech replied from the Bio Box "thats right and who do you think supplied them with lights - GOD!" with that the tech turned the lights off and went home.
Which reminds me of the "Techies lament"
We, the unwilling,
led by the unknowing,
have been doing the impossible
for the ungrateful.
We've done so much for so long,
we are now qualified to do everything
with nothing.
Where we make the improbable possible
and possible perfect.
Once again Good On You
Joe McCabe
OMT Stage Craft Guild
It is good to know that Gill, Leah & Carmen appreciate their techies - we will have to create an award for Technical appreciation and degree of difficulty - something like a big ball of gaffer tape (black for the techs and white for other or is that discrimination?)
Besides all that - it is great that you have acknowledge their endeavours, knowledge, expertise, bloody hard work, artistry and them. Unfortunetly it is not done often enough and in most cases only after they have got fed up or spat the dummy and left.
So to all others "SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL TECHIES"
I belive it was Sir Lawance, or someone like that, who once said after having an heated altercation with his lighting technicain "Dear boy - when the Greeks did a play they did not have to put with lighting technicains" (excuse the accent) to this the tech replied from the Bio Box "thats right and who do you think supplied them with lights - GOD!" with that the tech turned the lights off and went home.
Which reminds me of the "Techies lament"
We, the unwilling,
led by the unknowing,
have been doing the impossible
for the ungrateful.
We've done so much for so long,
we are now qualified to do everything
with nothing.
Where we make the improbable possible
and possible perfect.
Once again Good On You
Joe McCabe
OMT Stage Craft Guild